Bofors scandal was a media trial, charges 'yet to be proved' in court, says Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi, May 26: Days ahead of his state visit to Sweden, President Pranab Mukherjee said the Bofors scandal was a media trial but it had not been proven to be a scandal in a court.

In an exclusive interview to Swedish national daily 'Dagens Nyhetter', President Pranab Mukherjee said that Bofors scandal was a media trial and it is 'yet to be proved' that the Bofors gun deal was a scandal.

"First of all - it is yet to be to be established that there was a scandal. No Indian court has established it. I was the defence minister of the country long after Bofors, and all my generals certified that this is one of the best guns we are having.

Till today, Indian army is using it. The so-called scandal which you talk of, yes, in the media, it was there. There was a media trial. But I'm afraid, let us not be too much carried by publicity," the President was quoted as saying in a TOI report.

"I do not know. I'm not describing it, you're putting that word. Don't put that word. What I am saying is that in media it was publicised. But up to now, no Indian court has given any decisive verdict about the alleged scandal, " President further added as per the report.

Days ahead of his visit to Sweden, Pranab Mukherjee's comments on the Bofors deal could ignite a political controversy.

The Bofors scandal was a major political scandal that occurred between Sweden and India during 1980s and 1990s, initiated by Congress politicians and implicating the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi and several other members of the Swedish and Indian governments. They all were accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB for winning a bid to supply India's 155 mm field howitzer.